Antarctican/Nouns: Difference between revisions

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For nouns where the vowel of the last syllable has breathy or tense voice, the situation is more complicated. They all take ergative suffixes of the form C V ɴ, where C is a consonant and V is a vowel. V is almost always /i/, except after /t/ or /d/, when it is /u/. However it is not possible to predict C, as shown by the examples below:
For nouns where the vowel of the last syllable has breathy or tense voice, the situation is more complicated. They all take ergative suffixes of the form C V ɴ, where C is a consonant and V is a vowel. V is almost always /i/, except after /t/ or /d/, when it is /u/. However it is not possible to predict C, as shown by the examples below:


*teyláae /teilɛʔː/ - shirt, absolutive
*teyláae /teilɛˤː/ - shirt, absolutive
*teyláaesin /teilɛʔːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative
*teyláaesin /teilɛˤːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative
*péy /peiʔ/ - book, absolutive
*péy /peiˤ/ - book, absolutive
*péykin /peiʔkiɴ/ - book, ergative
*péykin /peiˤkiɴ/ - book, ergative
*`kùe /kɨɦ/ - goods, absolutive
*`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive
*`kùezin /kɨɦziɴ/ - goods, ergative
*`kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative
*`ròe /ʁɘɦ/ - red object, absolutive
*`ròe /ʱʁɘʱ/ - red object, absolutive
*`ròedun /ʁɘɦduɴ/ – red object, ergative
*`ròedun /ʱʁɘʱduɴ/ – red object, ergative
*'ków /kouʔ/ - cup, absolutive
*'ków /ˤkouˤ/ - cup, absolutive
*'kówpin */kouʔpiɴ/ - cup, ergative
*'kówpin */ˤkouˤpiɴ/ - cup, ergative
*péylánkáe /peiʔlaɴʔkɛʔ/ - blanket, absolutive
*péylánkáe /peiˤlaɴˤkɛˤ/ - blanket, absolutive
*péylánkáetun /peiʔlaɴʔkɛʔtuɴ/ - blanket, ergative
*péylánkáetun /peiˤlaɴˤkɛˤtuɴ/ - blanket, ergative
*wùerù /wɨɦʁuɦ/- frog, absolutive
*wùerù /wɨʱʁuʱ/- frog, absolutive
*wùerùgin /wɨɦʁuɦgiɴ/ - frog, ergative
*wùerùgin /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/ - frog, ergative


While it may seem that the consonant inserted before the –in (or –un) suffix is random, there are some patterns. Firstly, the inserted consonant is always an obstruent (oral stop, affricate or fricative), and never a sonorant (nasal or approximant). Secondly, observe that, when the final vowel of the absolutive stem has tense voice, the inserted consonant is always voiceless, while if the final vowel of the absolutive stem has breathy voice, the inserted consonant is always voiced. These two rules hold across the language.
While it may seem that the consonant inserted before the –in (or –un) suffix is random, there are some patterns. Firstly, the inserted consonant is always an obstruent (oral stop, affricate or fricative), and never a sonorant (nasal or approximant). Secondly, observe that, when the final vowel of the absolutive stem has tense voice, the inserted consonant is always voiceless, while if the final vowel of the absolutive stem has breathy voice, the inserted consonant is always voiced. These two rules hold across the language.


Also, for readers with knowledge of whatever language Antarctican borrowed the particular noun stem from, note that the “inserted” consonant almost perfectly corresponds with the consonant at the end of the word e.g. the word for “frog”, (''wùerù'' /wɨɦʁuɦ/ in the absolutive case), is in fact descended from the English word “frog”. However, Antarctican does not like final consonants, so the final “g” was lost in the absolutive form. However in the ergative form, there is another vowel following the “g”, so it “reappears”, and the ergative form of the word is ''wùerùgin'' /wɨɦʁuɦgiɴ/. A similar story happens with the “t” in the word for “blanket”, which is also derived from English.
Also, for readers with knowledge of whatever language Antarctican borrowed the particular noun stem from, note that the “inserted” consonant almost perfectly corresponds with the consonant at the end of the word e.g. the word for “frog”, (''wùerù'' /wɨʱʁuʱ/ in the absolutive case), is in fact descended from the English word “frog”. However, Antarctican does not like final consonants, so the final “g” was lost in the absolutive form. However in the ergative form, there is another vowel following the “g”, so it “reappears”, and the ergative form of the word is ''wùerùgin'' /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/. A similar story happens with the “t” in the word for “blanket”, which is also derived from English.


====Stem changes====
====Stem changes====
However, for some of the nouns with breathy or tense voice on the final vowel of the absolutive stem, there are changes in the stem when they take the ergative suffix. These involve a change in vowel phonation to modal voice, and often a change in vowel quality (as given by the table in the phonology section). e.g.
However, for some of the nouns with breathy or tense voice on the final vowel of the absolutive stem, there are changes in the stem when they take the ergative suffix. These involve a change in vowel phonation to modal voice, and often a change in vowel quality (as given by the table in the phonology section). e.g.


'tùen /tɨɴɦ/- wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive
'tùen /tɨɴʱ/- wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive


'tin-gin /tiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative (not *tùen-gin)
'tin-gin /tiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative (not *tùen-gin)
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voicing as the final vowel, then they both change e.g.
voicing as the final vowel, then they both change e.g.


ùylòen /ʔuiɦlɘɴɦ/ - island, absolutive
ùylòen /ʔuiʱlɘɴʱ/ - island, absolutive


oylendun
oylendun
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tùròoen
tùròoen
/tuɦʁɘːɴɦ/ - fashionable items, absolutive
/tuʱʁɘːɴʱ/ - fashionable items, absolutive


toreendun
toreendun
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ámáeráy /ʔaʔmɛʔʁaiʔ/ - prey, absolutive
ámáeráy /ʔaˤmɛˤʁaiˤ/ - prey, absolutive


ameraeykin /ʔameʁɛikiɴ/ - prey, ergative
ameraeykin /ʔameʁɛikiɴ/ - prey, ergative
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syllable undergo vowel changes in the stem e.g.
syllable undergo vowel changes in the stem e.g.


'táen /tɛɴʔ/ - weather, absolutive
'táen /tɛɴˤ/ - weather, absolutive


'toenchin /tɘɴciɴ/ - weather, ergative
'toenchin /tɘɴciɴ/ - weather, ergative




kàao /kɜɦː/ - membership card, absolutive
kàao /kɜʱː/ - membership card, absolutive


kaadun /kaːduɴ/ - membership card, ergative
kaadun /kaːduɴ/ - membership card, ergative
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vowel, some undergo vowel changes e.g.                 
vowel, some undergo vowel changes e.g.                 


ùenào /ʔɨɦnɜɦ/ - eel, absolutive
ùenào /ʔɨʱnɜʱ/ - eel, absolutive


inajin /ʔinaɟiɴ/ - eel, ergative
inajin /ʔinaɟiɴ/ - eel, ergative
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`kùe /kɨɦ/ - goods, absolutive
`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive


`kùezin /kɨɦziɴ/ - goods, ergative
`kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative


 
 
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'ká /kaʔ/ - fence, absolutive
'ká /ˤkaˤ/ - fence, absolutive


kaechin /kɛciɴ/ - fence, ergative
kaechin /kɛciɴ/ - fence, ergative




ká /kaʔ/ - coconut milk, absolutive
ká /kaˤ/ - coconut milk, absolutive


kátlin /katɬiɴ/ coconut milk, ergative
kátlin /katɬiɴ/ coconut milk, ergative
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`pùelùe /pɨɦlɨɦ/ - bridge, absolutive
`'''p'''ùelùe /ʱ'''p'''ɨʱlɨʱ/ - bridge, absolutive


bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative
'''b'''ilidlin /'''b'''ilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative




`pàoy /pɜiɦ/ - baby, absolutive
`'''p'''àoy /ʱ'''p'''ɜiʱ/ - baby, absolutive


baybyin /baibʲiɴ/ - baby, ergative
'''b'''aybyin /'''b'''aibʲiɴ/ - baby, ergative




`nyùewsùeylòen /ɲɨuɦsɨɦiɦlɘɴɦ/ - New Zealand, absolutive
`nyùew'''s'''ùeylòen /ʱɲɨuʱ'''s'''ɨiʱlɘɴʱ/ - New Zealand, absolutive


nyuuziilendun /ɲuːziːleɴduɴ/ - New Zealand, ergative
nyuu'''z'''iilendun /ɲuː'''z'''iːleɴduɴ/ - New Zealand, ergative




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yéysitléynyéy /jeiʔsitɬeiʔɲeiʔ/ - mutton, absolutive
yéysi'''tl'''éynyéy /jeiˤsi'''tɬ'''eiˤɲeiˤ/ - mutton, absolutive


yéysidlinyuekin /jeiʔsidɮiɲɨkiɴ/ - mutton, ergative
yéysi'''dl'''inyuekin /jeiˤsi'''dɮ'''iɲɨkiɴ/ - mutton, ergative




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For word initial voiceless obstruents followed by tense voiced vowels in the absolutive
For word initial voiceless obstruents followed by tense voiced vowels in the absolutive
form, which change to modal voice vowels in the ergative form, sometimes this change
form, which change to modal voice vowels in the ergative form, sometimes this change
also occurs e.g.
also occurs as long as there is no tense floating phonation e.g.




támá /taʔmaʔ/- victim of a scam / swindle, absolutive
'''t'''ámá /'''t'''aˤmaˤ/- victim of a scam / swindle, absolutive


damaesin /damɛsiɴ/ - victim of a scam / swindle, ergative
'''d'''amaesin /'''d'''amɛsiɴ/ - victim of a scam / swindle, ergative




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yuuwéy /juːweiʔ/ - clothes, absolutive
aetenàolùn /ʔɛte'''n'''ɜʱluɴʱ/ - heart, absolutive


yuufoekin /juːfɘkiɴ/ - clothes, ergative
aetoetnalonzin /ʔɛtɘ'''tn'''aloɴziɴ/ - heart, ergative
 
 
aetenàolùn /ʔɛtenɜɦluɴɦ/ - heart, absolutive
 
aetoetnalonzin /ʔɛtɘtnaloɴziɴ/ - heart, ergative


 
 
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'kqów
''''kq'''ów
/kʼouʔ/ - a small amount, absolutive
/ˤ'''k'''ʼouˤ/ - a small amount, absolutive


'kuhli /\kuɬi/ - a small amount, ergative
''''k'''uhlin /ˤ'''k'''uɬiɴ/ - a small amount, ergative




ráetqówléykuetu /ʁɛʔtʼoleiʔkɨtu/ - something self-limiting, absolutive
ráe'''tq'''ówléykuetu /ʁɛˤ'''tʼ'''oleiˤkɨtu/ - something self-limiting, absolutive


ráetoluekuetu /ʁɛʔtolɨkɨtu/ something self-limiting, ergative
ráe'''t'''oluekuetu /ʁɛˤ'''t'''olɨkɨtu/ something self-limiting, ergative




'kéychqéy /keiʔcʼeiʔ/ - a female name, absolutive
'kéy'''chq'''éy /ˤkeiˤ'''cʼ'''eiˤ/ - a female name, absolutive


'kéychuekin /keiʔcɨkiɴ/ - a female name, ergative
'kéy'''ch'''uekin /ˤkeiˤ'''c'''ɨkiɴ/ - a female name, ergative


 
 
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'tùen /sitɨɴɦ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive
'tùen /ˤtɨɴʱ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive


'tin-gin /sɨtiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative
'tin-gin /ˤtiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative


'tin-gi-u /sɨtiɴgiʔu/ - wound caused by a sting, comitative
'tin-gi-u /ˤtiɴgiˤu/ - wound caused by a sting, comitative




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/teilɛʔːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative
/teilɛʔːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative


teyláaesi-u /teilɛʔːsiʔu/ - shirt, comitative
teyláaesi-u /teilɛʔːsiˤu/ - shirt, comitative




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péykin /peiʔkiɴ/ - book, ergative
péykin /peiʔkiɴ/ - book, ergative


péyki-u /peiʔkiʔu/ - book, comitative
péyki-u /peiʔkiˤu/ - book, comitative




`kùe /kɨɦ/ - goods, absolutive
`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive


`kùezin /kɨɦziɴ/ - goods, ergative
`kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative


`kùezi-u /kɨɦziʔu/ - goods, comitative
`kùezi-u /ʱkɨʱziʔu/ - goods, comitative




`ròe /ʁɘɦ/ - red object, absolutive
`ròe /ʱʁɘʱ/ - red object, absolutive


`ròedun /ʁɘɦduɴ/ – red object, ergative
`ròedun /ʱʁɘʱduɴ/ – red object, ergative


`ròedu-u /ʁɘɦduʔu/ – red object, comitative
`ròedu-u /ʱʁɘʱduʔu/ – red object, comitative




'ków /kouʔ/ - cup, absolutive
'ków /ˤkouˤ/ - cup, absolutive


'kówpin /kouʔpiɴ/ - cup, ergative
'kówpin /ˤkouˤpiɴ/ - cup, ergative


'kówpi-u /kouʔpiʔu/ - cup, comitative
'kówpi-u /ˤkouˤpiʔu/ - cup, comitative




péylánkáe /peiʔlaɴʔkɛʔ/ - blanket, absolutive
péyláenkáe /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤ/ - blanket, absolutive


péylánkáetun /peiʔlaɴʔkɛʔtuɴ/ - blanket, comitative
péyláenkáetun /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤtuɴ/ - blanket, comitative


péylánkáetu-u /peiʔlaɴʔkɛʔtuʔu/ - blanket, ergative
péyláenkáetu-u /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤtuʔu/ - blanket, ergative




wùerù /wɨɦʁuɦ/ - frog, absolutive
wùerù /wɨʱʁuʱ/ - frog, absolutive


wùerùgin /wɨɦʁuɦgiʔu/ - frog, ergative
wùerùgin /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/ - frog, ergative


wùerùgiqu /wɨɦʁuɦgiɴ/ - frog, comitative
wùerùgiqu /wɨʱʁuʱgiʔu/ - frog, comitative


 
 
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| yew- /jeu/ || 1st person inclusive plural
| yew- /jeu/ || 1st person inclusive plural
|-
|-
| ti- /ti/ || 2nd person
| te- /te/ || 2nd person
|-
|-
| wa- /wa/ || 3rd person, topicalised
| wa- /wa/ || 3rd person, topicalised
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So, in the absolutive
So, in the absolutive
case, “my clothes” or “our clothes” (not including you) would be myiyuuwéy /mʲijuːweiʔ/, “your clothes” would be tiyuuwéy /tijuːweiʔ/ etc.
case, “my frog” or “our frog” (not including you) would be myiwùerù /mʲiwɨʱʁuʱ/, “your frog” would be tiwùerù /tiwɨʱʁuʱ/ etc.


 
 
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`pùelùe /pɨɦlɨɦ/ - bridge, absolutive
`pùelùe /ʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - bridge, absolutive


`myùepùelùe /mʲɨɦpɨɦlɨɦ/ - my bridge, absolutive (not *myipùelùe)
`myùepùelùe /ʱmʲɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - my bridge, absolutive (not *myipùelùe)


tùepùelùe /tɨɦpɨɦlɨɦ/ - your bridge, absolutive (not *tipùelùe)
tùepùelùe /tɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - your bridge, absolutive (not *tipùelùe)




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`pùelùe /pɨɦlɨɦ/- bridge, absolutive
`pùelùe /ʱpɨʱlɨʱ/- bridge, absolutive


bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative
bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative


`myùepùelùe /mʲɨɦpɨɦlɨɦ/ - my bridge, absolutive
`myùepùelùe /ʱmʲɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - my bridge, absolutive


myibilidlin /mʲibilidɮiɴ/ - my bridge, ergative
myibilidlin /mʲibilidɮiɴ/ - my bridge, ergative
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'kqów
'kqów
/kʼouʔ/ - a small amount, absolutive
/ˤkʼouˤ/ - a small amount, absolutive


'kuhlin /kuɬiɴ/ - a small amount, ergative
'kuhlin /kuɬiɴ/ - a small amount, ergative


myéykuhlin /mʲeiʔkuɬiɴ/ - my small amount, ergative
'myéykuhlin /mʲeiˤkuɬiɴ/ - my small amount, ergative




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`byùe /bʲɨɦ/ - mouth, absolutive
`byùe /ʱbʲɨʱ/ - mouth, absolutive
 
`byijin /bʲiɟiɴ/ - mouth, ergative
 
myùebyùe /mʲɨɦbʲɨɦ/ - my mouth, absolutive
 
`myùebyijin /mʲɨɦbʲiɟiɴ/ - my mouth, ergative
 
=====Prediction of Floating Phonation=====
 
As a rule, whether or not a noun has floating phonation cannot be
predicted. The only time when it is possible to do so is for absolutive nouns,
if, in the ergative form, the first vowel loses its
breathy or tense phonation and becomes modally voiced. In this case, the rules
are given below:
 
 
 
======Sonorant Initial Stem======
 
If the
absolutive stem begins with a sonorant (nasal or approximant), and that
sonorant becomes devoiced when the vowel after it acquires modal voice in the
ergative form, then there is only ever modal floating phonation before it in both cases e.g.
 
 
màao /mɜɦː/ - betel nut, absolutive
 
pmaagin /pmaːgiɴ/ - betel nut, ergative
 
myimàao /mʲimɜɦː/ - my betel nut, absolutive
 
 
Otherwise,
if a word begins with a sonorant, then it always has floating phonation that is the same as that on the first vowel e.g.
 
 
'máláeyáa /maʔlɛʔjaʔː/ - manners, absolutive
 
maleyaaetun /malejɛːtuɴ/ - manners, ergative
 
 
'myéymáláeyáa /mʲeiʔmaʔlɛʔjaʔː/ - my manners, absolutive
 
 
 
======Stem starts with /s/======
 
If the absolutive
stem begins with /s/, it can never have tense floating phonation
e.g.
 
sásaechin /saʔsɛciɴ/ - stab wound, absolutive
 
myisásaechin /mʲisaʔsaɛciɴ/ - my stab wound, absolutive
 
 
 
In the case
of absolutive nouns with breathy voice on the first vowel, if, in the ergative
form, the initial /s/ becomes voiced /z/, then the word has breathy floating phonation e.g.
 
 
`sàomùe /sɜɦmɨɦ/ - (major) wife, absolutive
 
zamibyin /zamibʲiɴ/ - (major) wife, ergative
 
`myùesàomùe /mʲɨɦsɜɦmɨɦ/ - my (major) wife, absolutive (not *myisàomùe)
 
 
But if, in
the ergative form, the first vowel acquires modal voice but the initial
consonant stays as voiceless /s/, then in both the absolutive form and the ergative, there is floating modal phonation e.g.
 
 
sàopyùe /sɜɦpʲɨɦ/ - speech (as in words, not a formal speech), absolutive
 
sabyishin /sabʲiçiɴ/ - speech (as in words, not a formal speech), ergative
 
myisàopyùe /mʲisɜɦpʲɨɦ/ - my speech (as in words, not a formal speech), absolutive
 
 
 
======Other stems======
 
If the
absolutive stem begins with another obstruent (oral stop, affricate or
fricative) followed by a vowel with tense voice, and that obstruent stays voiceless even when followed by a modally
voiced vowel (in the ergative form), then the absolutive form has tense floating phonation e.g.
 
 
'táen /tɛɴʔ/ - weather, absolutive
 
toenchin /tɘɴciɴ/ - weather, ergative
 
'myéytáen /mʲeiʔtɛɴʔ/ - my weather, absolutive
 
 
But if the obstruent becomes voiced, then there is only ever floating modal phonation e.g.
 
 
támá /taʔmaʔ/ - victim of a scam / swindle, absolutive
 
damaesin /damaɛsiɴ/ - victim of a scam / swindle, ergative
 
myitámá /mʲitaʔmaʔ/ - my victim of a scam / swindle, absolutive
 
 
 
And vice versa, if the absolutive form of a noun begins with a voicless obstruent followed by a breathy voiced vowel, and that vowel becomes voiced in the ergative form, then the absolutive form has floating breathy phonation e.g.
 
 
`pùelùe /pɨɦlɨɦ/ - bridge, absolutive
 
bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative
 
`myùepùelùe /mʲɨɦpɨɦlɨɦ/ - my bridge, absolutive
 
 
`pàoy /pɜiɦ/- baby, absolutive
 
baybyin /baibʲiɴ/ - baby, ergative
 
`myùepàoy /mʲɨɦpɜiɦ/ - my baby, absolutive
 
 
 
And if the
obstruent stays voiceless in the ergative form, then there is only ever floating modal phonation e.g.
 


pàoy /pɜiɦ/ - page, absolutive
`byijin /ʱbʲiɟiɴ/ - mouth, ergative


paydlin /paidɮiɴ/ - page, ergative
`myùebyùe /ʱmʲɨʱbʲɨʱ/ - my mouth, absolutive


myipàoy /mʲipɜiɦ/ - my page, absolutive
`myùebyijin /ʱmʲɨʱbʲiɟiɴ/ - my mouth, ergative
 
 


====Nasalisation of Velar Initials====
====Nasalisation of Velar Initials====
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`kùe /kɨɦ/ - goods, absolutive
`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive


`myùengùe /mʲɨɦŋɨɦ/ - my goods, absolutive
`myùengùe /ʱmʲɨʱŋɨʱ/ - my goods, absolutive




'kéyváy /keiʔɥaiʔ/ - tongue, absolutive
'kéyváy /ˤkeiˤɥaiˤ/ - tongue, absolutive


'myéyngéyváy /mʲeiʔŋeiʔɥaiʔ/ - my tongue, absolutive
'myéyngéyváy /ˤmʲeiˤŋeiˤɥaiˤ/ - my tongue, absolutive


 
 


===Possession by a Noun===
===Possession by a Noun===
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`kùeràotùu /kɨɦʁɜɦtuɦː/ - bone, absolutive
`kùeràotùu /ʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː/ - bone, absolutive


yini /jini/ - dog, absolutive
yini /jini/ - dog, absolutive


`wòeykùeràotùu yini /wɘiɦkɨɦʁɜɦtuɦː jini/ - the
`wòeykùeràotùu yini /ʱwɘiʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː jini/ - the
dog’s bone, absolutive, alienable (i.e. the one that it eats, buries etc.)
dog’s bone, absolutive, alienable (i.e. the one that it eats, buries etc.)


`nùkùeràotùu yini /nuɦkɨɦʁɜɦtuɦː jini/ - the dog’s bone,
`nùkùeràotùu yini /ʱnuʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː jini/ - the dog’s bone,
absolutive, inalienable (i.e. the one that is a part of it)
absolutive, inalienable (i.e. the one that is a part of it)


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'kówntátu /kouɴʔtaʔtu/ – acquaintance, absolutive
'kówntátu /ˤkouɴˤtaˤtu/ – acquaintance, absolutive


'kókówntátu /koʔkouɴʔtaʔtu/– acquaintances (of each other), absolutive
'kókówntátu /ˤkoˤkouɴˤtaˤtu/– acquaintances (of each other), absolutive


 
 
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sátozii /saʔtoziː/ – enemy, absolutive
sátozii /saˤtoziː/ – enemy, absolutive


myisátozii /mʲisaʔtoziː/ – my enemy, absolutive
myisátozii /mʲisaˤtoziː/ – my enemy, absolutive


sasátozii /sasaʔtoziː/ - enemies (of each other), absolutive
sasátozii /sasaˤtoziː/ - enemies (of each other), absolutive




`rùy /ʁuiɦ/- rival, absolutive
`rùy /ʱʁuiʱ/- rival, absolutive


`myùerùy /mʲɨɦʁuiɦ/ - my rival, absolutive
`myùerùy /ʱmʲɨʱʁuiʱ/ - my rival, absolutive


`rùrùy /ʁuɦʁuiɦ/ - rivals (of each other), absolutive
`rùrùy /ʱʁuʱʁuiʱ/ - rivals (of each other), absolutive




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wùeròen /wɨɦʀɘɴɦ/ - friend, absolutive
wùeròen /wɨʱʀɘɴʱ/ - friend, absolutive


fiwùeròen /fiwɨɦʀɘɴɦ/ - friends (of each other), absolutive
fiwùeròen /fiwɨʱʀɘɴʱ/ - friends (of each other), absolutive


These arise from when the first vowel has breathy or tense voice, but the first consonant is underlyingly a voiced obstruent or a prestopped nasal. These can only occur before modally voiced vowels, and are thus modified before the vowel with breathy or tense voice. But if word has floating modal phonation, then the vowel there will have modal voice and the underlying consonant will surface there.
These arise from when the first vowel has breathy or tense voice, but the first consonant is underlyingly a voiced obstruent or a prestopped nasal. These can only occur before modally voiced vowels, and are thus modified before the vowel with breathy or tense voice. But if word has floating modal phonation, then the vowel there will have modal voice and the underlying consonant will surface there.
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[[Category:Antarctican]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 22 August 2013

Nouns in the Antarctican language inflect for case and possession, but are not marked for number or gender.


Case

Nouns decline into three cases, Absolutive, Ergative and Comitative. Absolutive case is unmarked while the other two use vowel changes on the final vowel and/or suffixes. Nouns can also take demonstrative and possessive prefixes.

Ergative case

How this case is formed depends on the phonation and frontness of the final vowel in the word.

Modally voiced final vowel

Final vowel is a back vowel

In this case, lower the back vowel e.g.

  • tõn /tɔɴ/ - change (as in coins, money), absolutive
  • tãn /tɒɴ/ - change, ergative
  • doleengun /doleːŋuɴ/ - dragon, absolutive
  • doleengon /doleːŋoɴ/ - dragon, ergative

If the final vowel is a diphthong that begins with a back vowel, then the start of the diphthong is lowered e.g.

  • paehoown /pɛχoːuɴ/ - dust, absolutive
  • paehõown /pɛχɔːuɴ/ - dust, ergative
  • yuenpiluy - /jɨɴpilui/ - employee, absolutive
  • yuenpiloy /jɨɴpiloi/ - employee, ergative


Final vowel is not a back vowel

In this case the ergative suffix is –n /ɴ/, or –ga /ga/ if the noun already ended in –n e.g.*zive /ziɥe/ - boat, absolutive

  • ziven /ziɥeɴ/ - boat, ergative
  • myaewntayn /mʲɛuɴtaiɴ/ - mountain, absolutive
  • myaewntayn-ga / mʲɛuɴtaiɴga/ - mountain, ergative
Final vowel has breathy or tense voice

For nouns where the vowel of the last syllable has breathy or tense voice, the situation is more complicated. They all take ergative suffixes of the form C V ɴ, where C is a consonant and V is a vowel. V is almost always /i/, except after /t/ or /d/, when it is /u/. However it is not possible to predict C, as shown by the examples below:

  • teyláae /teilɛˤː/ - shirt, absolutive
  • teyláaesin /teilɛˤːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative
  • péy /peiˤ/ - book, absolutive
  • péykin /peiˤkiɴ/ - book, ergative
  • `kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive
  • `kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative
  • `ròe /ʱʁɘʱ/ - red object, absolutive
  • `ròedun /ʱʁɘʱduɴ/ – red object, ergative
  • 'ków /ˤkouˤ/ - cup, absolutive
  • 'kówpin */ˤkouˤpiɴ/ - cup, ergative
  • péylánkáe /peiˤlaɴˤkɛˤ/ - blanket, absolutive
  • péylánkáetun /peiˤlaɴˤkɛˤtuɴ/ - blanket, ergative
  • wùerù /wɨʱʁuʱ/- frog, absolutive
  • wùerùgin /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/ - frog, ergative

While it may seem that the consonant inserted before the –in (or –un) suffix is random, there are some patterns. Firstly, the inserted consonant is always an obstruent (oral stop, affricate or fricative), and never a sonorant (nasal or approximant). Secondly, observe that, when the final vowel of the absolutive stem has tense voice, the inserted consonant is always voiceless, while if the final vowel of the absolutive stem has breathy voice, the inserted consonant is always voiced. These two rules hold across the language.

Also, for readers with knowledge of whatever language Antarctican borrowed the particular noun stem from, note that the “inserted” consonant almost perfectly corresponds with the consonant at the end of the word e.g. the word for “frog”, (wùerù /wɨʱʁuʱ/ in the absolutive case), is in fact descended from the English word “frog”. However, Antarctican does not like final consonants, so the final “g” was lost in the absolutive form. However in the ergative form, there is another vowel following the “g”, so it “reappears”, and the ergative form of the word is wùerùgin /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/. A similar story happens with the “t” in the word for “blanket”, which is also derived from English.

Stem changes

However, for some of the nouns with breathy or tense voice on the final vowel of the absolutive stem, there are changes in the stem when they take the ergative suffix. These involve a change in vowel phonation to modal voice, and often a change in vowel quality (as given by the table in the phonology section). e.g.

'tùen /tɨɴʱ/- wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive

'tin-gin /tiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative (not *tùen-gin)


As a rule, if the final vowel undergoes a change, and the second last vowel has the same voicing as the final vowel, then they both change e.g.

ùylòen /ʔuiʱlɘɴʱ/ - island, absolutive

oylendun /ʔoileɴduɴ/ - island, ergative (not *qùilòendun)


tùròoen /tuʱʁɘːɴʱ/ - fashionable items, absolutive

toreendun /toʁeːɴduɴ/ - fashionable items, ergative

 

If there are even more consecutive syllables with the same voicing on the vowel, then this rule applies to every single one of them e.g.


ámáeráy /ʔaˤmɛˤʁaiˤ/ - prey, absolutive

ameraeykin /ʔameʁɛikiɴ/ - prey, ergative

 

There are many, many other nouns that decline according to this pattern. Almost all of the nouns that end in /ɴ/ or contain a long vowel in the final syllable undergo vowel changes in the stem e.g.

'táen /tɛɴˤ/ - weather, absolutive

'toenchin /tɘɴciɴ/ - weather, ergative


kàao /kɜʱː/ - membership card, absolutive

kaadun /kaːduɴ/ - membership card, ergative


However, the converse is not true. For nouns with non-modally voiced final vowels, but that do not end in /ɴ/ or a long vowel, some undergo vowel changes e.g.

ùenào /ʔɨʱnɜʱ/ - eel, absolutive

inajin /ʔinaɟiɴ/ - eel, ergative


While others do not e.g.


`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive

`kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative

 

There are some nouns that have identical absolutive forms, but are distinguished in the ergative e.g.


'ká /ˤkaˤ/ - fence, absolutive

kaechin /kɛciɴ/ - fence, ergative


ká /kaˤ/ - coconut milk, absolutive

kátlin /katɬiɴ/ coconut milk, ergative

 

Obstruent Voicing

If the absolutive form has a voiceless obstruent (oral stop, affricate or fricative), that separates two syllables with breathy voice (or a breathy voice floating phonation if word initial), when the breathy voiced vowels acquire modal voice in the ergative form, the voiceless obstruent does too, becoming modally voiced e.g.


`pùelùe /ʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - bridge, absolutive

bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative


`pàoy /ʱpɜiʱ/ - baby, absolutive

baybyin /baibʲiɴ/ - baby, ergative


`nyùewsùeylòen /ʱɲɨuʱsɨiʱlɘɴʱ/ - New Zealand, absolutive

nyuuziilendun /ɲuːziːleɴduɴ/ - New Zealand, ergative


 

If the absolutive form of a noun has a voiceless obstruent (oral stop, affricate or fricative), that is preceded by a syllable with a modally voiced vowel, and is followed by a vowel with tense voice, if this tense voiced vowel becomes modally voiced in the ergative form, then the voiceless obstruent before it acquires modal voice too e.g.


yéysitléynyéy /jeiˤsieiˤɲeiˤ/ - mutton, absolutive

yéysidlinyuekin /jeiˤsiiɲɨkiɴ/ - mutton, ergative


Here we can see that the /tɬ/ in the absolutive form has changed to /dɮ/ in the ergative form.


For word initial voiceless obstruents followed by tense voiced vowels in the absolutive form, which change to modal voice vowels in the ergative form, sometimes this change also occurs as long as there is no tense floating phonation e.g.


támá /taˤmaˤ/- victim of a scam / swindle, absolutive

damaesin /damɛsiɴ/ - victim of a scam / swindle, ergative


 

Sonorant Devoicing

Another similar pattern occurs in sonorants. If, in the absolutive form, they are preceded by a syllable with a modally voiced vowel (or modal voice floating phonation if word initial), and followed by a breathy or tense voiced vowel that changes in the ergative (to have modal voice), then the sonorant becomes devoiced. /w/ becomes /f/, /l/ becomes /ɬ/, /j/ becomes /ç/, and /ʁ/ becomes /χ/, voiced nasals become prestopped e.g.


aetenàolùn /ʔɛtenɜʱluɴʱ/ - heart, absolutive

aetoetnalonzin /ʔɛtɘtnaloɴziɴ/ - heart, ergative

 

De-Ejectivisation

There are some Antarctican nouns that have ejectives in the absolutive form. As required by the phonotactics, they have tense voiced vowels both before and after (possibly with /ɴ/ intervening). However, sometimes in the ergative form, the tense voiced vowel after the ejective becomes modally voiced. In this case, the airstream mechanism changes from glottalic egressive (ejective) to pulmonic egressive (normal) e.g.


'kqów /ˤkʼouˤ/ - a small amount, absolutive

'kuhlin /ˤkuɬiɴ/ - a small amount, ergative


ráetqówléykuetu /ʁɛˤoleiˤkɨtu/ - something self-limiting, absolutive

ráetoluekuetu /ʁɛˤtolɨkɨtu/ something self-limiting, ergative


'kéychqéy /ˤkeiˤeiˤ/ - a female name, absolutive

'kéychuekin /ˤkeiˤcɨkiɴ/ - a female name, ergative

 

Comitative Case

How this is formed also depends on the frontness and phonation of the final vowel:

 

Last Vowel of Abs. Form has Modal Voice
Last Vowel of Abs. Form is not a Back Vowel

In this case, take the absolutive form, raise /a/ to /ɛ/ and centralise any other front vowels e.g.


zive /ziɥe/ - boat, absolutive

zivoe /ziɥɘ/ - boat, comitative


myaewntayn /mʲɛuɴtaiɴ/ - mountain, absolutive

myaewntaeyn /mʲɛuɴtɛiɴ/ - mountain, comitative


agirey /ʔagiʁei/ - agreement, absolutive

agiroey /ʔagiʁɘi/ - agreement, comitative

 

Last Vowel of Abs. Form is a Back Vowel

In this case, take the absolutive form, and suffix /pmu/ e.g.


tõn /tɔɴ/- change (as in coins, money), absolutive

tõnpmu /tɔɴpmu/ - change (as in coins, money), comitative


doleengun /doleːŋuɴ/ - dragon, absolutive

doleengunpmu /doleːŋuɴpmu/ - dragon, comitative


paehoown /pɛχoːuɴ/ - dust, absolutive

paehoownpmu /pɛχoːuɴpmu/ - dust, comitative


yuenpiluy - /jɨɴpiluipmu/ - employee, absolutive

yuenpiluypmu - /jɨɴpiluipmu/ - employee, comitative

 

Other Cases

If the last vowel of the absolutive form has tense or breathy voice, the comitative is formed differently. Here, it is formed by taking the ergative, deleting any final /ɴ/ or /ga/ that had been inserted as a suffix, and then suffixing /ʔu/ e.g.


'tùen /ˤtɨɴʱ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), absolutive

'tin-gin /ˤtiɴgiɴ/ - wound caused by a sting (e.g. a bee or a jellyfish), ergative

'tin-gi-u /ˤtiɴgiˤu/ - wound caused by a sting, comitative


teyláae /teilɛʔː/ - shirt, absolutive

teyláaesin /teilɛʔːsiɴ / - shirt, ergative

teyláaesi-u /teilɛʔːsiˤu/ - shirt, comitative


péy /peiʔ/ - book, absolutive

péykin /peiʔkiɴ/ - book, ergative

péyki-u /peiʔkiˤu/ - book, comitative


`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive

`kùezin /ʱkɨʱziɴ/ - goods, ergative

`kùezi-u /ʱkɨʱziʔu/ - goods, comitative


`ròe /ʱʁɘʱ/ - red object, absolutive

`ròedun /ʱʁɘʱduɴ/ – red object, ergative

`ròedu-u /ʱʁɘʱduʔu/ – red object, comitative


'ków /ˤkouˤ/ - cup, absolutive

'kówpin /ˤkouˤpiɴ/ - cup, ergative

'kówpi-u /ˤkouˤpiʔu/ - cup, comitative


péyláenkáe /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤ/ - blanket, absolutive

péyláenkáetun /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤtuɴ/ - blanket, comitative

péyláenkáetu-u /peiˤlɛɴˤkɛˤtuʔu/ - blanket, ergative


wùerù /wɨʱʁuʱ/ - frog, absolutive

wùerùgin /wɨʱʁuʱgiɴ/ - frog, ergative

wùerùgiqu /wɨʱʁuʱgiʔu/ - frog, comitative

 

Pronominal Possession

Where English would use possessive pronouns (“my”, “your”), Antarctican uses possessive prefixes. The base forms of each are listed in the table below:

Prefix Usage
myi- /mʲi/ 1st person singular, 1st person exclusive plural
yew- /jeu/ 1st person inclusive plural
te- /te/ 2nd person
wa- /wa/ 3rd person, topicalised
si- /si/ 3rd person, non-topicalised


So, in the absolutive case, “my frog” or “our frog” (not including you) would be myiwùerù /mʲiwɨʱʁuʱ/, “your frog” would be tiwùerù /tiwɨʱʁuʱ/ etc.

 

Phonation Spreading

However, if the noun has a floating phonation, this will spread onto the prefix, and often cause a vowel change in it as well (see the table in the phonology section for a list of changes) e.g.


`pùelùe /ʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - bridge, absolutive

`myùepùelùe /ʱmʲɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - my bridge, absolutive (not *myipùelùe)

tùepùelùe /tɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - your bridge, absolutive (not *tipùelùe)


Loss of Floating Phonation

However, if, in the ergative form, the first vowel changes to no longer have breathy or tense voice (i.e. it now has modal voice), then, if the floating phonation was the same as the what used to be on the vowel, then it is lost too e.g.


`pùelùe /ʱpɨʱlɨʱ/- bridge, absolutive

bilidlin /bilidɮiɴ/ - bridge, ergative

`myùepùelùe /ʱmʲɨʱpɨʱlɨʱ/ - my bridge, absolutive

myibilidlin /mʲibilidɮiɴ/ - my bridge, ergative

 

There are two exceptions to the above rule. The first is if the word begins with an ejective, in which case the ejectiveness is lost, but the floating phonation remains e.g.


'kqów /ˤkʼouˤ/ - a small amount, absolutive

'kuhlin /kuɬiɴ/ - a small amount, ergative

'myéykuhlin /mʲeiˤkuɬiɴ/ - my small amount, ergative


The second is for words that begin with consonant pronounced with breathy voice (voiced consonant before a breathy voiced vowel) e.g.


`byùe /ʱbʲɨʱ/ - mouth, absolutive

`byijin /ʱbʲiɟiɴ/ - mouth, ergative

`myùebyùe /ʱmʲɨʱbʲɨʱ/ - my mouth, absolutive

`myùebyijin /ʱmʲɨʱbʲiɟiɴ/ - my mouth, ergative

Nasalisation of Velar Initials

For some nouns that begin with /k/ or /g/, often it changes to /ŋ/ when the noun takes a prefix. e.g.


gali /gali/ - hole, absolutive

myingali /mʲiŋali/ - my hole, absolutive

 

In such a case, if the first vowel has tense or breathy voice, then it also has a floating phonation that is the same e.g.


`kùe /ʱkɨʱ/ - goods, absolutive

`myùengùe /ʱmʲɨʱŋɨʱ/ - my goods, absolutive


'kéyváy /ˤkeiˤɥaiˤ/ - tongue, absolutive

'myéyngéyváy /ˤmʲeiˤŋeiˤɥaiˤ/ - my tongue, absolutive

 

Possession by a Noun

Antarctican distinguishes alienable and inalienable possession. Both are marked with prefixes on the possessed noun. These are wey- for alienable possession and nu- for inalienable possession (the possessor always takes the absolutive case). Note that floating phonation affects these prefixes in the same way as any other:


`kùeràotùu /ʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː/ - bone, absolutive

yini /jini/ - dog, absolutive

`wòeykùeràotùu yini /ʱwɘiʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː jini/ - the dog’s bone, absolutive, alienable (i.e. the one that it eats, buries etc.)

`nùkùeràotùu yini /ʱnuʱkɨʱʁɜʱtuʱː jini/ - the dog’s bone, absolutive, inalienable (i.e. the one that is a part of it)

 

Where English would compound nouns together, or use one to modify another. Antarctican uses the alienable possessive construction e.g.


aaehaan /ʔɛːχaːɴ/ - food, absolutive

wey-aaehaan yini /weiʔɛːχaːɴ jini/ - dog food, absolutive


Reciprocal Possession

In Antarctican, there is no singular vs. plural marking. However, some nouns that imply a relationship (e.g. friend, brother, enemy, coworker), have special forms to indicate a pair or group of people / things where that relationship is reciprocal e.g. where English would say “They are friends / brothers / enemies / coworkers (of each other)”.

These forms are generally constructed by reduplicating the first syllable of the noun, in the same “slot” where possession would be marked e.g.


biraza /biʁaza/ - brother, absolutive

bibiraza /bibiʁaza/ - brothers (of each other), absolutive


yeruy /jeʁui/ - ally, absolutive

yeyeruy /jejeʁui/ - allies (of each other), absolutive

 

However, the inserted syllable cannot have a long vowel, a diphthong, or end in /ɴ/. If it would do so then it is truncated e.g.


doolaa /doːlaː/ - coworker, absolutive

dodoolaa /dodoːlaː/ - coworkers (of each other), absolutive


nayba /naiba/ - neighbour, absolutive

nanayba /nanaiba/ - neighbours (of each other), absolutive


'kówntátu /ˤkouɴˤtaˤtu/ – acquaintance, absolutive

'kókówntátu /ˤkoˤkouɴˤtaˤtu/– acquaintances (of each other), absolutive

 

The voicing of the vowel of the reduplication is determined by what floating phonation the noun has e.g.


sátozii /saˤtoziː/ – enemy, absolutive

myisátozii /mʲisaˤtoziː/ – my enemy, absolutive

sasátozii /sasaˤtoziː/ - enemies (of each other), absolutive


`rùy /ʱʁuiʱ/- rival, absolutive

`myùerùy /ʱmʲɨʱʁuiʱ/ - my rival, absolutive

`rùrùy /ʱʁuʱʁuiʱ/ - rivals (of each other), absolutive


firendun /fiʁeɴduɴ/ – friend, ergative

myuefirendun /mʲɨfiʁeɴduɴ/ – my friend, ergative

fuefirendun /fɨfiʁeɴduɴ/ – friends (of each other), ergative

 

A few nouns have irregular reciprocal possessive forms e.g.


wùeròen /wɨʱʀɘɴʱ/ - friend, absolutive

fiwùeròen /fiwɨʱʀɘɴʱ/ - friends (of each other), absolutive

These arise from when the first vowel has breathy or tense voice, but the first consonant is underlyingly a voiced obstruent or a prestopped nasal. These can only occur before modally voiced vowels, and are thus modified before the vowel with breathy or tense voice. But if word has floating modal phonation, then the vowel there will have modal voice and the underlying consonant will surface there.